Extendible and contractible vehicle bulkhead

Abstract

An extendible and contractible bulkhead for a trailer is provided to accommodate high density loads and low density loads requiring more storage space. The bulkhead includes a plurality of spaced diagonal braces for receiving load forces and for transmitting them to the main structure of the trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An extendible and contractible bulkhead for attachment to a floor of a trailer including a front wall connected thereto comprising: (a) a main frame adapted to receive load forces from a load on the floor of said trailer,   (b) a plurality of spaced arms pivotally connected to said main frame at one set of ends and to the floor of said trailer at the other set of ends to receive the forces developed in said main frame and transmit them to the floor and front wall of said trailer;   (c) said one set of ends of said arms being disposed to move vertically on said main frame when said bulkhead is extended and contracted;   (d) stabilizing means secured between said main frame and said plurality of arms to maintain said main frame vertically when said bulkhead is extended or contracted;   (e) said stabilizing means comprising a horizontal bar extending through said arms intermediate the ends of said main frame;   (f) a pair of stabilizing arms spaced from opposite sides of said plurality of arms and connected between opposite ends of said horizontal bar and bottom portions of said main frame;   (g) locking receptacles provided in the floor of said trailers;   (h) locking mechanisms including movable lock elements secured to said main frame; and   (i) said lock elements being disposed to move into said receptacles to lock said main frame at a predetermined position and removed from said receptacles to permit said main frame to be moved toward said front wall of said trailer.   
     
     
       2. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main frame comprises a plurality of vertical posts having said locking mechanisms secured to the lower ends thereof. 
     
     
       3. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 2 wherein said main frame includes a plurality of horizontal bars. 
     
     
       4. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 3 wherein an angle strip is connected to a floor and floor wall of said trailer, and a plurality of mounting brackets are secured thereto to receive said other set of the ends of said arms therein. 
     
     
       5. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 4 wherein a plurality of spaced channel members are secured to the upper ends of the vertical posts of said main frame to receive said set of ends of said arms therein. 
     
     
       6. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 5 wherein roller elements are secured to said set of ends of said arms and disposed to roll within said channel members. 
     
     
       7. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 5 wherein roller members are secured to the bottom portion of said main frame to permit said frame to be rolled toward and away from the front wall of said trailer. 
     
     
       8. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 7 wherein a plurality of spaced second brackets are connected to said front wall of said trailer to receive said channel members therein when said bulkhead is contracted with said main frame in close proximity to said front wall. 
     
     
       9. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 8 wherein said set of ends of said arms are disposed to be locked within said channel members at selected one of at least two different locations dependent upon whether said bulkhead is contracted with said main frame in close proximity to said front wall and is extended with said main frame disposed away from said front wall located to receive forces from a load. 
     
     
       10. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said channel members include upper and lower openings to receive movable pin elements therethrough. 
     
     
       11. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pin elements are disposed to extend through said lower openings in said channel members and end openings in said set of ends of said arms to lock said bulkhead in an extended position. 
     
     
       12. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plurality of said second brackets include openings therein disposed in alignment with the upper openings in said channel members when said bulkhead is contracted whereby said movable pins may be inserted through the openings in said second bracket and the upper openings of said channel members to lock said bulkhead in a contracted position. 
     
     
       13. A bulkhead as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking mechanisms include bias springs associated with said lock elements, and handles connected to the upper ends of said lock elements which must be selectively manually operated to extend and remove said lock elements from the receptacles in the floor of said trailer.